Mia - oooooow

TERRIFIED tabby Rupert the cat is too scared to leave the house after being shot in the leg with an airgun by thugs.

Vets feared the two-year-old, who lives in Staverton Road, Whitley, would lose his leg after a pellet penetrated his paw and he suffered a deep cut and bruising.

The RSPCA believes it was a deliberate attack on the short-haired tabby and yesterday appealed for help from neighbours to stop further attacks.

A cat was shot dead with an airgun in the same street in August 2002.

Rupert's owner Brian Rogers was horrified by the shooting.

He said: "It is very lucky for Rupert that it only touched the bone and did not break it as there is a possibility he could have lost his leg. I am incredibly relieved he is okay and very grateful to the vets - but at the same time I am totally disgusted that anyone could do this to an animal."

Although Rupert has made a full recovery, his torment is far from over.

Mr Rogers said: "Rupert is a friendly cat who before the shooting loved to be out and exploring. Now he seems scared to go out and spends most of his time lounging around the house."

RSPCA inspector Graham Hammond, who is investigating the incident, said: "Clearly someone in the area is mindlessly taking shots at animals and our concern now is that someone else's pet could also get injured or killed. We need to find the person responsible for this cowardly and senseless act before any other animals suffer."

Insp Hammond is keen to hear from anyone in the neighbourhood whose pet has recently been shot with an airgun in case this is not an isolated incident.

The shooting follows a spate of incidents across the town - many of which have been attributed to youngsters during the school holidays.

The RSPCA has received reports of more than 1,100 airgun-related injuries to animals in England and Wales in the last six months.

The minimum age for unsupervised use of an airgun was raised from 14 to 17 after an RSPCA campaign.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Act now means it is now an offence for anyone under 17 to have an airgun unless supervised by a person aged 21 or over.

Anyone with information on the incident can call the RSPCA on 08705 555 999.